Scheduling social media posts is an easy way to share your messages, stories, and photos. If you want to schedule many posts on various social media networks, you could pay for a service that has a lot to offer. But if you’re just posting to Twitter, there are a few easy ways to schedule tweets for free.
Note: remember, Twitter has a new name and logo and is now known simply as “X.” Many are seeking alternatives to the popular social media service.
1. Schedule Tweets Using Twitter’s Compose Box
The simplest way to schedule your tweets for free is using Twitter’s built-in scheduling feature. Because it’s part of the social media network’s framework, you don’t have to worry about setting up an account with another service. The downside is that it is not currently available in the mobile Twitter app or the Twitter app for Mac. To schedule a tweet on your computer, launch the Twitter app on Windows or open your web browser, head to Twitter.com, and sign in to get started.
1. Select “Post” in the menu on the left to open the dedicated post window, or enter your message into the “What is happening?!” box at the top of the Home screen.
2. Click the “Schedule” button (calendar) in the toolbar at the bottom of the post.
3. Choose the date and time you’d like to post the tweet, then select “Confirm.” Click “Schedule” when you are finished.
Tip: are you an Android user who cannot get enough of Twitter/X? Check out our picks for the best Twitter apps for Android.
View Scheduled Tweets on Twitter
To view your scheduled posts on Twitter, reopen the scheduling tool described above, and select “Scheduled Tweets” at the bottom of the post or window.
Open the “Scheduled” tab to view the posts, and optionally select one to make changes or remove the scheduling.
Good to know: you can use Twitter Lists to ensure that you don’t miss out on your favorite content, even if it’s from accounts you don’t follow.
2. Use a Social Media Dashboard for Scheduling Tweets
If you search, you’ll find plenty of services offering dashboards and extra features for managing social media. The free Buffer service allows you to schedule tweets on Twitter. Not only is it easy to use, but it also offers browser extensions and mobile apps in addition to its web-based application, making it simple to schedule tweets, no matter which device you are using.
1. To schedule a tweet on the Buffer website, select “Publishing” at the top. Expand “Queues” on the left, and choose your Twitter channel.
2. Click “Create Post” on the right side.
3. Enter your tweet, drag and drop a file, or insert media or an emoji using the options at the bottom of the window. You can see a preview of your post on the right.
4. Select the arrow next to “Add to Queue,” and choose “Schedule Post.”
5. Use the pop-up calendar to pick the date and the drop-down boxes to pick the time, then click “Schedule.”
Tip: for a quick way to schedule more posts, open your Twitter channel on the “Publishing” tab, select the time below the date, and click “Schedule a Tweet.” Compose, hit “Schedule,” and you’re set.
View Scheduled Tweets on Buffer
You’ll see that your post is scheduled for the date and time you selected and is directed back to your Twitter channel on Buffer. You should see your scheduled tweet below the corresponding date.
To delete, edit, move the post to Drafts, or share it immediately, simply choose an option on the bottom of the post.
Be sure to check out Buffer’s other free features, like posting to multiple social media channels, a calendar view with filters, and a handy AI idea generator. You can also look into Buffer’s paid plans for extensive features.
Tip: interested in microblogging? Discover how to install your own federated Twitter with Pleroma to get started.
3. Schedule a Tweet With a Mobile App
As mentioned, you can use the Buffer app to schedule tweets on your mobile device. Also consider using a third-party Twitter app that gives you additional features, along with tweet scheduling. One reliable app is Crowdfire. It’s available on both Android and iPhone, is free to use, and gives you nifty extra features you’ll appreciate.
1. To schedule a tweet with Crowdfire, open the app, and select “Compose” at the bottom.
2. Enter your post, and optionally add an image, your location, or a hashtag.
3. Tap the arrow next to “Best Time” at the bottom. Choose “Post at Best Time” to let Crowdfire publish your tweet at the ideal time or “Post at Custom Time” to select your date and time.
4. When you finish, tap “Schedule,” and the post pops into your queue for the date and time you selected.
View Scheduled Tweets on Crowdfire
To view your scheduled tweets, tap “Scheduling” on the bottom right, and open the “Scheduled“ tab at the top. Select “Edit” to make changes, or use the arrow next to “Edit” to post the tweet immediately, or delete it altogether.
Crowdfire is available for free with support for multiple social platforms, article and image recommendations, light and dark themes, and notifications. In-app purchases for additional features start at $2.99.
Set It and Forget It
Whether you want to compose your posts once a week or once a month, you can create and schedule your tweets in one sitting, allowing you more time for other tasks. Just assemble your posts, set the dates and times, and let the service take over.
Now that you know how to schedule a tweet for free, check out how to send self-destructing tweets on Twitter.
Image Credit: Pixabay. All screenshots by Sandy Writtenhouse.
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